The SEIU Healthcare Training Centre has received more than $500,000 in federal funding to expand a program that helps internationally educated nurses work in Canada’s healthcare system.
The funding from the Future Skills Centre will support training for 50 internationally educated nurses through the union training centre’s Career Pathway Program, with the first group of graduates having jobs secured at employer partners including Sienna Senior Living nursing homes.
The program aims to remove barriers that internationally trained nurses face when trying to enter the Canadian healthcare workforce by providing personalized case management, financial support and targeted training.
Addressing healthcare staffing challenges
The investment reflects efforts to tackle ongoing staffing shortages in Canada’s healthcare sector by better utilizing the skills of internationally trained professionals already in the country.
“Today’s investment to support internationally educated nurses in becoming fully licensed and working to their full potential is proof of what’s possible when unions and governments collaborate to create meaningful solutions,” said Tyler Downey, president of SEIU Healthcare.
Downey said the program helps internationally educated nurses while strengthening Canada’s healthcare system with a more skilled workforce.
Government supports workforce development
Health Minister Marjorie Michel said the program will ultimately improve patient care by increasing the number of qualified nurses in the system.
“Nurses and healthcare professionals play a crucial role in keeping Canadians healthy. By facilitating the training of more nurses, we are enhancing the strength of our healthcare system,” Michel said.
The minister noted that supporting internationally educated nurses through the program ensures more patients receive proper care.
Union-led training model
The SEIU Healthcare Training Centre describes itself as Canada’s first union-led training institution focused on healthcare worker education and career development.
The centre works to provide healthcare workers with education, support and career pathways needed to advance in their professions.
The Future Skills Centre funding is part of broader government efforts to address labour shortages in critical sectors by helping skilled immigrants integrate into the Canadian workforce.
